Section 178. HOW THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON WAS DECEIVED.
Reading edition
“I (S. 115, N. 1) got famously taken in[1] on that occasion,” said the Duke of Wellington once. “The troops had[2] taken to plundering a good deal. It was necessary to[3] stop it, and I issued an order announcing[4] that the[5] first man taken in the act should be hanged upon the spot. One day, just as we were sitting[6] down to dinner, three men[7] were brought to the door of the tent by the provost. They had been taken in[8] the act of plundering, and I had nothing for it[9] but to command that they (S. 4, N. 4, man) should be taken away and hanged in some place where they might be seen by the whole column in its march next day. I had a good many guests with[10] me on that day, and among the rest, I think, Lord Nugent. They[11] seemed dreadfully shocked, and could not eat their dinner. I did not eat myself, but, as I told them, I could not indulge my feelings[12]; I must do my duty. Well[13], the dinner went off rather gravely; and next morning, sure enough[14], three men in uniform were seen hanging (S. 78, N. 14, B) from the branches of a tree close to the high road. It was a terrible example, which produced[15] the desired effect, for there was no more plundering. Some months afterwards I learned that one of my staff[16] had taken counsel with Dr. Hume, and as three men had (S. 29, N. 3) just died in the hospital, they had hung them[17] up and let the three culprits return to their regiments.”
“Were you not very angry, Duke[18]?”
“Well[19], I suppose I was at first; but[20] as I had no wish to take the poor fellows’ lives and only wanted the example, and as the example had the desired effect (S. 27, N. 8), my anger soon died out[21], and I confess to you that[22] I am very glad now that the three lives were spared.”—Historical Anecdotes.